IMPEDEMENTS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT continued
governance institutions. These include a mechanism, evident in traditional governance structures, whereby the community through clan mothers or some other group can hold leaders responsible if they get onto a wrong path. A related concept is political piracy whereby a leader is corrupt, plays favorites, or uses community resources for his or her personal benefit. Political piracy is often related to lateral violence. Both of these ideas are based on a web of conflict in which various groups within a community justify what they are doing because of resentment and hatred born of past victimization. To address these impediments to economic development, Verna McGregor of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation in Quebec, Twinn and Redekop have developed a three-day community consultation process. The idea is that no-one but community representatives can turn around a conflict situation; however many communities are at an impasse and no-one quite knows how to begin a process of change. The community dialogue does not come in with solutions; rather it provides a framework and a set of
Working with First Nations to build homes and opportunity for everyone.
Wayne Brown e-mail: wayne@bigfoot-mfg.com
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questions. Examples include: 1) What is the relationship between lateral violence and problems with economic development? 2) Since economic life works as a system with each part working in relation to others, how can economic development be done strategically so that one initiative will encourage others to get started? 3) What values are important for a flourishing economic life and how can they be cultivated? 4) What difference would it make to economic development if there was reconciliation? 5) What are the dreams, visions and desires of the community for economic development? During the community dialogue, participants work with a trained facilitator in groups of six to eight on the questions. At the end of the process the group will have determined priority items to work on. A key to the success of the dialogue will be the gathering process, which needs participation from both elders and youth. The group will also require the expertise of people in business and those working on economic development. Since governance structures are key, political leaders as well as representatives from different sub groups within a community need to be there. Questions of value, goodwill, sharing and generosity call for a return to traditional teachings. As such, clearly they are questions of spirituality. One way of putting it is, how can a good spirit be established in the community so that people work together toward the greater good of all? This means that the community consultation is not just about coming up with good ideas, even though they might be important, rather it is about a representative group within a community starting to work together on a common initiative. Adapted from an article by Dr. Vern Redekop Next issue Michelle White, as part of a CANDO (Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) team, will detail a report providing practical details on how to overcome lateral violence. Photo by Peter Farris-Manning, courtesy CANDO
www.nbdm.ca 42 DECEMBER 2010 • NATIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE